Device for producing jets of liquid metal

ABSTRACT

A device in which at least two cylindrical chambers are placed in a magnetic field and communicate with each other via holes in their cylindrical walls. Each of said chambers is in communication with a container filled with liquid metal via an axial hole. Electrical current is supplied to the metal enclosed in the containers from unlike poles of a power source.

United States Patent i191 Bykhovsky [54] DEVICE FOR PRODUCING JETS OF LIQUID METAL [76] lnventor: David Grgorievich Bykhovsky,

Konjushenny Pereulak l/6, kv. 18, Leningrad, U.S.S.R.

[22] Filed: July 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 269,809

[52] U.S. CI. 417/50 [5l] H02n 4/20 [58] Field of Search 417/50 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,536,859 l/l95l Tama 417/50 X i [11] 3,801,223 [45] Apr. 2, 1974 3,574,485 4/1971 Herman 4l7/50 2,54l,84l 2/l95l Tama 417/50 X 2,552,876 5/1951 Tama 417/50 X Primary Examiner-William L. Freeh Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT A device in which at least two cylindrical chambers are placed in a magnetic eld and communicate with each other via holes in their cylindrical walls. Each of said chambers is in communicationwith a container filled with liquid metal via an axial hole.

Electrical current is supplied to the metal enclosed in the containers from unlike poles of a power source.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 2 1914 SHEU 1 nff HHHH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to devices for producing jets of liquid metal in applying coating or metal proportioning which may prove useful in metallurgy, foundary work and mechanical engineering.

PRIOR TECHNIQUE Commonly known is a device for'producing jets of liquid metal comprising a ceramic cylindrical chamber in communication with a container filled with liquid metal via an axial hole, with a metal outlet being provided in a cylindrical wall of the chamber. To cause the liquid metal to rotate about the axis of the cylindrical chamber, electrical current is passed through the metal from its center to the periphery for which purpose one electrode is set up in the liquid metal container and the other electrode at the cylindrical wall of the chamber which isplaced in a magnetic tield. In operation, the liquid metal, which is under a pressure gradient developed owing to metal rotation, issues from an outlet provided in the cylindrical chamber in jets.

However the above device suffers from the following disadvantages:

the need to seal the electrode from the ceramic wall of the cylindrical chamber; and

no possibility of using metal electrodes in spraying aluminium insofar as aluminium in the hot fluid state melts all metals withoutl exception.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to eliminat the above disadvantages.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for producing jets of liquid metal which ensures the continuous production of the jets at the requisite production l The said above and other objects are achieved by providing a device for producing jets of liquid metal comprising a cylindrical chamber in communication,

via an axial hole, with a container filled with liquid metal to which electrical current is passed from a power source, with the chamber being placed in a magnetic field which excites and maintains rotation of the metal about the axis of the chamber whose wall is provided with a metal jet outlet, the device, according to the invention, comprising at least two cylindrical chambers in communication with each other via holes in their cylindrical walls to close an electric circuit through the metal to which electrical current is supplied from unlike poles of the power source.

The holes in the cylindrical walls of the chambers can be connected with a passage provided with a metal jet outlet.

With the above arrangement, the requisite pressure gradient can be maintainedin the liquid metal and continuous production of metal jets at a requisite rate is ensured.

The nature of the invention will be clear from the description of an exemplary embodiment to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a device, according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an electric circuit of a device, according to the invention, with a current lead in the form of nonconsumable electrodes;

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit, according to the invention, with continuous feeding of metal to a device;

FIG. 4 depicts an electric circuit, according to this invention, with current leads in the form of plasmatrons of opposite polarity;

FIG. 5 shows a layout of a device, according to the invention with three cylindrical chambers;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show longitudinal various configurations of a working chamber of a device, conforming to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE` DRAWINGS A device comprises a ceramic casing l (FIG.1) which incorporates two cylindrical chambers 2 whose height is 5-6 times less their diameters. Arranged above each chamber is a container 3 filled with molten metal.

Each container 3 communicates with the corresponding cylindrical chamber 2 via an axial hole 4. Both chambers 2 are interconnected by a passage 5 extending between the openings made in the circumferential portion of each cylindrical chamber 2. The passage 5 is provided with an outlet 6 through which the metal is discharged from the device.

Each molten metal container 3 is provided with a current lead. The latter may be in the form of graphite or tungsten electrodes 7 (FIG.2), consumable electrodes 8 (FIG.3) or in --the form of plasmatrons 9 (FIGA) of unlike polarity.

Owing to the above system of-the current leads, melting and continuous heating of the molten metal can be performed at-one and same time.

The device may comprise several, for instance, three cylindrical chambers 2 (FIG.5).

The chambers 2 may be not cylindrical in shape but have another profile, such as those shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. j

The device operates as follows; i

In the initial position, both chambers'2 are filled with molten metal.

To cause the molten metal to rotatein chambers 2, a d.c. (or a.c.) current is passed to the metal in the con-l tainers 3 from the unlike poles of a power source, with the chambers 2 being placed in a longitudinal constant (if an a.c. current is used) or variable magnetic tield.

As an electrical current is switched on, giving rise to a magnetic tield, the metal contained in both chambers 2 initiates rotation with the ensuingpressure gradient developed in each chamber 2. Under the effect of this pressure gradient, the molten metal flows from central zones of the chambers 2 to the outlet 6 via the passage 5.

The flow and pressure of a metal jet issuing from the passage 6 are adjusted by varying the current value, intensity of the magnetic tield and the geometry of the passage 6.

The pressure gradient inside the chambers 2 tilled with the rotating liquid metal does not depend on the direction of rotation and the direction of current. Therefore when a direct current is used, it is sufcient to link the l (plus) of the power source with one container and its (minus) with another. A similar The direction of the magnetic field is shown with arrows in FIG. 2.

In some caaes when the metal is fed in the form of a wire, the graphite electrodes may be omitted, the arc being formed between the molten metal and the wires (FIGS).

The use of plasmatrons 9l of an opposite polarity (FIGA) as a current-lead system is the most efficient.

The above device may be utilized for the application of coatings, forv metal proportioning in foundary shops or for pumping metals in the hot fluid state.

The above device allows the continuous feeding of molten metal at a specified production rate.

The invention is based on employing the coaction of a current to be passed directly through molten metal from an independent current source, with an outer magnetic field. By arranging and connecting the cylindrical chambers, both electrodes are located within the region of a minimum of pressure, thus obviating the problem of sealing off the current lead and permitting the use of electric arc and plasma apparatus as current leads.

What is claimedv is:

'1. A device for producing jets of liquid metal comprising a ceramic casing having at least two cylindrical chambers therein and a passage interconnecting the chambers, a container filled with metal, there being one container for each chamber, said casing having an axial hole providing communication between each container and the center of each chamber, a source of current having unlike poles, a current lead for each con tainer located in a region of minimum pressure, said leads being connected to the poles of the current source, means associated with thel casing providing a magnetic field for the chambers, and a metal jet outlet in the casing communicating with the chambers, the arrangement being such that upon activation of the current source, the current passes directly through the molten metal via the leads and coacts with the magnetic field which maintains rotation of the metal about the axes of th'e chambers.

2. The device for producing jets of liquid metal as claimed in'claim l in which said metal jet outlet communicates with the passage interconnecting the chambers. 

1. A device for producing jets of liquid metal comprising a ceramic casing having at least two cylindrical chambers therein and a passage interconnecting the chambers, a container filled with metal, there being one container for each chamber, said casing having an axial hole providing communication between each container and the center of each chamber, a source of current having unlike poles, a current lead for each container located in a region of minimum pressure, said leads being connected to the poles of the current source, means associated with the casing providing a magnetic field for the chambers, and a metal jet outlet in the casing communicating with the chambers, the arrangement being such that upon activation of the current source, the current passes directly through the molten metal via the leads and coacts with the magnetic field which maintains rotation of the metal about the axes of the chambers.
 2. The device for producing jets of liquid metal as claimed in claim 1 in which said metal jet outlet communicates with the passage interconnecting the chambers. 